Method for thermodynamic cycle

Abstract

A working fluid in the gaseous state at some initial temperature and pressure is expanded polytropically to a resulting exhaust fluid (vapor and liquid) having some lower pressure at some lower temperature in order to produce useful work. The exhaust fluid is then, in a manner approaching constant enthalpy, compressed to the working fluid's nominal original high pressure. Thereafter, the fluid undergoes constant pressure heating to restore its initial state. Of the several methods described for achieving isenthalpic compression, the preferred method uses an isenthalpic compression apparatus which educts the exhaust fluid vapors into a throat located between a motive fluid inlet nozzle and a wider recompression outlet. After eduction, and entrainment into the motive fluid, the exhaust vapors are recompressed by the deceleration produced at the recompression outlet. Thereafter the working fluid and motive fluid are separated. The motive fluid at elevated pressure consists of liquid in quantities sufficient to accomplish gas recompression with surplus quantities being returned to reservoir storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a thermodynamic cycle having, (1) a transition of a working fluid from a State A (representing a pressure P 1  and a temperature T 1  outside a vapor/liquid phase region for the working fluid) to a State B' (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower than T 1 ) and (2) a transition from a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  which approximates P 1  and a temperature T 3  which is intermediate to temperature T 1  and temperature T 2 ) to State A, wherein the improvement comprises effecting a transition of the working fluid from State B' to State C' isenthalpically by: absorbing into the working fluid in State B', energy provided by an incompressible motive fluid in an energized state and higher temperature than the working fluid by placing the two fluids in energy communication by educting the working fluid into the motive fluid of a jet eductor and thereby forcing the fluids, in attaining thermal equilibrium, to share their respective energies;   providing by recycle accumulation of liquid and/or drawing upon external sources of the motive fluid the amount of motive fluid for the energy communication, as determined by: (1) fixing the quantity of working fluid introduced in State B',   (2) prescribing the State C' for the working fluid, and   (3) fixing the energized state of the motive fluid, to pressure the working fluid from State B' (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower thant T 1  and also lower than the critical temperature of the combined motive fluid and working fluid in the proportions in which the fluids are employed) to State C' adiabatically;     energizing the motive fluid by pumping;   separating the motive fluid from the working fluid between State C' and State A by: (1) maintaining a constant motive fluid source inventory (at a temperature achieved in effecting the transition from State C' to State A) within a vessel that receives the liquid thus formed in total, and   (2) withdrawing any surplus liquid which will be perforce, working fluid.     
     
     
       2. In a thermodynamic cycle having, (1) a transition of a working fluid from a State A (representing a pressure P 1  and a temperature T 1  outside a vapor/liquid phase region for the working fluid) to a State B (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower than T 1 ) and (2) a transition from a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  which approximates P 1  and a temperature T 3  which is intermediate to temperature T 1  and temperature T 2 ) to State A, wherein the improvement comprises effecting a transition of the working fluid from State B' to State C' isenthalpically by: absorbing into the working fluid in State B', energy provided by an incompressible motive fluid in an energized state and higher temperature than the working fluid by placing the two fluids in energy communication by educting the working fluid into the motive fluid of a jet eductor and thereby forcing the fluids, in attaining thermal equilibrium, to share their respective energies;   providing by recycle accumulation of liquid and/or drawing upon external sources of the motive fluid the amount of motive fluid for the energy communication, as determined by: (1) fixing the quantity of working fluid introduced in State B',   (2) prescribing the State C' for the working fluid, and   (3) fixing the energized state of the motive fluid, to pressure the working fluid from State B' (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower thant T 1  and also lower than the critical temperature of the combined motive fluid and working fluid in the proportions in which the fluids are employed) to State C' adiabatically;     energizing the motive fluid by pumping; and   separating phases and quantities of the motive fluid from a liquid quantity of working fluid produced between State C' and State A in a disengaging drum by: (1) maintaining a constant motive fluid source inventory (at a temperature achieved in effecting the transition from State C' to State A) within a disengaging drum that receives the liquid thus formed in total, and   (2) withdrawing any surplus liquid which will be perforce, working fluid.     
     
     
       3. In a thermodynamic cycle having, (1) a transition of a working fluid from a State A (representing a pressure P 1  and a temperature T 1  outside a vapor/liquid phase region for the working fluid) to a State B (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower than T 1 ) and (2) a transition from a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  which approximates P 1  and a temperature T 3  which is intermediate to temperature T 1  and temperature T 2 ) to State A, wherein the improvement comprises effecting a transition of the working fluid from State B' to State C' isenthalpically by: subjecting the working fluid to a Joule-Thompson free expansion to subcool and liquify a portion of the working fluid before the fluid undergoes a transition from State B' to State C';   absorbing into the working fluid in State B', energy provided by an incompressible motive fluid in an energized state and higher temperature than the working fluid by placing the two fluids in energy communication by educting the working fluid into the motive fluid of a jet eductor and thereby forcing the fluids, in attaining thermal equilibrium, to share their respective energies;   providing by recycle accumulation of liquid and/or drawing upon external sources of the motive fluid the amount of motive fluid for the energy communication, as determined by: (1) fixing the quantity of working fluid introduced in State B',   (2) prescribing the State C' for the working fluid, and   (3) fixing the energized state of the motive fluid, to pressure the working fluid from State B' (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower thant T 1  and also lower than the critical temperature of the combined motive fluid and working fluid in the proportions in which the fluids are employed) to State C' adiabatically;     energizing the motive fluid by pumping;   separating phases and quantities of the motive fluid from a liquid quantity of working fluid produced between State C' and State A in a disengaging drum by: (1) maintaining a constant motive fluid source inventory (at a temperature achieved in effecting the transition from State C' to State A) within the disengaging drum that receives the liquids thus formed in total, and   (2) withdrawing any surplus liquid which will be perforce, working fluid.     
     
     
       4. In a thermodynamic cycle having, (1) a transition of a working fluid from a State A (representing a pressure P 1  and a temperature T 1  outside a vapor/liquid phase region for the working fluid) to a State B (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower than T 1 ) and (2) a transition from a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  which approximates P 1  and a temperature T 3  which is intermediate to temperature T 1  and temperature T 2 ) to State A, wherein the improvement comprises effecting a transition of the working fluid from State B' to State C' isenthalpically by: subjecting the working fluid to a Joule-Thompson free expansion to subcool and liquify a portion of the working fluid before the fluid undergoes a transition from State B' to State C';   absorbing into the working fluid in State B', energy provided by an incompressible motive fluid in an energized state and higher temperature than the working fluid by placing the two fluids in energy communication by educting the working fluid into the motive fluid of a jet eductor and thereby forcing the fluids, in attaining thermal equilibrium, to share their respective energies;   providing by recycle accumulation of liquid and/or drawing upon external sources of the motive fluid the amount of motive fluid for the energy communication, as determined by: (1) fixing the quantity of working fluid introduced in State B',   (2) prescribing the State C' for the working fluid, and   (3) fixing the energized state of the motive fluid, to pressure the working fluid from State B' (representing a pressure P 2  lower than P 1  and a temperature T 2  lower than T 1  and also lower than the critical temperature of the combined motive fluid and working fluid in the proportions in which the fluids are employed) to State C' adiabatically and simultaneously subjecting the working fluid to expansion     in an expansion engine to subcool and liquify the working fluid in its transition from State B' to State C'   separating phases and quantities of the motive fluid from a liquid quantity or working fluid produced between State C' and State A in a disengaging drum by: (1) maintaining a constant motive fluid source inventory (at a temperature achieved in effecting the transition from State C' to State A) within a vessel that receives the liquid thus formed in total, and   (2) withdrawing any surplus liquid which will be perforce, working fluid.     
     
     
       5. A process for achieving a degree of irreversibility in an adiabatic compression of a working fluid (approaching isenthalpic compression) and thus achieving an increase of pressure by expenditure of work in lesser quantities than would be required to produce the temperature rise which would accompany the same pressure rise in a reversible abiabatic compression (isentropic compression) which comprises: absorbing into the working fluid in a State B' (representing a pressure P 2  and a temperature T 2  lower than the critical temperature of a combined motive fluid and working fluid in the proportions in which the fluids are employed), energy provided by an incompressible motive fluid in an energized state and higher temperature than the working fluid by placing the two fluids in energy communication by educting the working fluid into the motive fluid of a jet eductor and thereby forcing the fluids, in attaining thermal equilibrium, to share their respective energies;   providing, by recycle accumulation of liquid and/or drawing upon external sources of the motive fluid, the amount of motive fluid for energy communication, as determined by: (1) fixing the quantity of working fluid introduced in State B',   (2) prescribing a State C' for the working fluid, and   (3) fixing the energized state of the motive fluid, to pressure the working fluid from State B' to a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  higher than P 2  and a temperature T 3  higher than T 2  adiabatically;     energizing the motive fluid by pumping;   separating motive fluid from a liquid quantity of working fluid produced at State C' by separating phases and quantities of the fluids in a disengaging drum.   
     
     
       6. A process for achieving a degree of irreversibility in an adiabatic compression of a working fluid (approximately isenthalpic compression) and thus achieving an increase of pressure by expenditure of work in lesser quantities than would be required to produce the temperature rise which would accompany the same pressure rise in a reversible adiabatic compression (isentropic compression) which comprises: subjecting the working fluid to Joule-Thompson free expansion to subcool and liquify a portion of the working fluid before the fluid undergoes a transition from State B' to State C';   absorbing into the working fluid in a State B' (representing a pressure P 2  and a temperature T 2  lower than the critical temperature of a combined motive fluid and working fluid in the proportions in which the fluids are employed), energy provided by an incompressible motive fluid in an energized state and higher temperature than the working fluid by placing the two fluids in energy communication by educting the working fluid into the motive fluid of a jet eductor and thereby forcing the fluids, in attaining thermal equilibrium, to share their respective energies;   providing, by recycle accumulation of liquid and/or drawing upon external sources of the motive fluid, the amount of motive fluid for energy communication, as determined by: (1) fixing the quantity of working fluid introduced in State B',   (2) prescribing a State C' for the working fluid, and   (3) fixing the energized state of the motive fluid, to pressure the working fluid from State B' to a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  higher than P 2  and a temperature T 3  higher than T 2  adiabatically;     energizing the motive fluid by pumping;   separating phases and quantities of the motive fluid from a liquid quantity of working fluid produced at State C' in a disengaging drum.   
     
     
       7. A process for achieving a degree of irreversibility in an adiabatic compression of a working fluid (approximately isenthalpic compression) and thus achieving an increase of pressure by expenditure of work in lesser quantities than would be required to produce the temperature rise which would accompany the same pressure rise in a reversible adiabatic compression (isentropic compression) which comprises: absorbing into the working fluid in a State B' (representing a pressure P 2  and a temperature T 2  lower than the critical temperature of a combined motive fluid and working fluid in the proportions in which the fluids are employed), energy provided by an incompressible motive fluid in an energized state and higher temperature than the working fluid by placing the two fluids in energy communication by educting the working fluid into the motive fluid of a jet eductor and thereby forcing the fluids, in attaining thermal equilibrium, to share their respective energies;   providing, by recycle accumulation of liquid and/or drawing upon external sources of the motive fluid, the amount of motive fluid for energy communication, as determined by: (1) fixing the quantity of working fluid introduced in State B',   (2) prescribing a State C' for the working fluid, and   (3) fixing the energized state of the motive fluid, to pressure the working fluid from State B' to a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  higher than P 2  and a temperature T 3  higher than T 2  adiabatically; and     simultaneously subjecting the working fluid to expansion in an expansion engine to subcool and liquify the working fluid in its transition from State B' to State C';   energizing the motive fluid by pumping;   separating phases and quantities of the motive fluid from a liquid quantity of working fluid produced at State C' in a disengaging drum.   
     
     
       8. A process for achieving an isenthalpic compression of a working fluid vapor from a State B' (representing a pressure P 2  lower than a pressure P 1  of a State A and a temperature T 2  lower than a temperature T 1  of State A) to a State C' (representing a pressure P 3  which approximates P 1  and a temperature T 3  which is intermediate to temperature T 1  and temperature T 2 ) by: maintaining a constant flow of motive fluid as determined by fixing States B' and C' for the working fluid and the energized state of the motive fluid;   pumping the motive fluid to this energized state;   introducing the motive fluid to a jet eductor;   introducing the working fluid in State B' to the suction of the jet eductor to create a total effluent at State C';   maintaining a back pressure control of the total effluent of the jet eductor;   separating the total vapor as working fluid and in addition withdrawing any amount of liquid in excess of a constant inventory of liquid as working fluid liquid.